1 Corinthians 14:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Brethren, do not be children in your understanding. Be infants in evil, but in understanding be mature." After many explanations and proofs, the Apostle rightly now uses stronger speech, joined with a great rebuke, and brings forward an example suited to the matter. Children are perplexed and astonished at the sight of small things, but before very great things they do not come to such wonder. In the same way, those who had the gift of tongues, which was last of all, thought they had everything. Therefore he says, "Do not be children." That is, do not be foolish where you ought to be wise. But be simple children where unrighteousness, vainglory, and pride are concerned. One who is an infant in evil must also be wise.

Having shown what place the gift of tongues occupies, he finally uses severe speech and reproves them for thinking like children. Truly, it belongs to children to marvel at small things, because such things can impress them, as tongues do. It also belongs to children to disregard great things, because these display nothing new, as prophecies do. Therefore here he persuades them not to exalt themselves, but simply not even to know what malice is, just as children do not know it. Yet in mind they must be mature, that is, they must judge which gifts are higher and more profitable. Or again: an infant in evil is one who does harm to no one, but is guileless like a child. One mature in mind is he who, while doing harm to no one, also brings benefit. He not only avoids evil, but attains virtue and keeps himself unharmed by temporal things. This instruction is like the saying: Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Mt 10:16).

Do not be children in your thoughts, chasing after such thoughts as disturb the simple and are wholly useless to the perfect.

The Apostle Paul desires the Corinthians to be mature, so that they may know what is necessary for the ordering of the Church. He wants them to withdraw from evil and error, and to hasten toward what is for the good of the brethren. For the one mature in understanding acts for the good of another, and above all for a brother.

Do not distort the order. Emulate not the foolishness of children, but their innocence. From those who are mature in age, borrow not wickedness but sound judgment.

In what you have said, I find confirmation of what was written to you before. “Do not be children in understanding,” because the all-wise Paul commanded that we be infants in malice, but perfect in understanding. For it is impossible, utterly impossible, without being cleansed from sin and reaching infant-like purity, either to be perfected in understanding or to come “to a perfect man” (Eph 4:13), “a worker who has no need to be ashamed” (2 Tim 2:15).

We monastics also put on the koukoulion, which is a symbol of humility. Little and innocent infants wear koukoulia, while a grown man does not wear one. But we wear it in order to be infants in malice, as the Apostle said: “Do not be children in understanding, but in malice be infants” (1 Cor 14:20). What does it mean to be an infant in malice? An innocent infant, if dishonored, does not grow angry. If he is honored, he does not become vainglorious. If someone takes what belongs to him, he is not grieved. For he is an infant in malice, and he neither avenges insults nor seeks glory.

“Do not be children in understanding.” Passing to a new series of exhortations, the Apostle points out that the use of every spiritual gift had to be intelligent. If the Corinthians exalt themselves in the gift of tongues and use it without benefit or need, they prove to be foolish infants. He wished them to be infants only with respect to ignorance of evil.

Disdain for the prophetic gift, and the use of the gift of tongues before those who do not understand, is not merely mistaken and fruitless in its consequences. It is also not praiseworthy in its motives. It is a kind of infancy and childishness: “Do not be children in understanding. In evil be infants, but in understanding be mature.”

Although the impropriety of speaking in church in incomprehensible languages had been exposed with sufficient clarity, the Apostle did not hope at once to turn the Corinthians away from their error. Therefore he reproves it rather sharply, showing that in this matter they are like children, who very often prefer what is small and insignificant to what is great and important. Having advised them to be children in what concerns the doing of evil (cf. Rom 16:19), the Apostle calls them to be deeper and wiser in what concerns the higher spiritual life. Such life requires unceasing and complete perfection. According to the teaching of the ancient prophets, the gift of tongues is chiefly needed by those who do not believe in God, or who have turned away from Him, not by those who believe.

When you hear teaching in the Church, be zealous both to understand it, to preserve it, and to use it for your own benefit and that of others. Do not excuse yourselves with the lazy thought, “We are simple people.” Without doubt, the Apostle gives a simple command even to simple people: “Do not be children in understanding, but in malice be infants, and in understanding be mature” (1 Cor 14:20).

"After many explanations and proofs, the Apostle rightly now uses stronger speech, joined with a great rebuke, and brings forward an example suited to the matter. Children marvel and are astonished at the sight of small things, but before very great things they do not come to such wonder. In the same way, those who had the gift of tongues, which was the least of all, thought they had everything. Therefore he says: Do not be children. That is, do not be foolish where you ought to be wise. But be simple children where unrighteousness, vainglory, and pride are concerned. One who is an infant in evil must also be wise. As wisdom with malice would not be wisdom, so simplicity with foolishness would not be simplicity.